The Dare
Author: liyu
Warning: R
Summary: Draco makes a dare he regrets… or does he? H/D
Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.
AN: A small interlude between last chapter and the next one, the few months in between. Nothing really happens, just Harry's thoughts on the situation. Could somehow explain the transition from the previous chapter to the next (which, lucky you, will be soon out).
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They ended up pressed tightly together in some obscure corner of Hogwarts. How it had happened, Harry wouldn't be able to detail clearly. They had met quite by chance in this part of the castle while most of the students were enjoying their weekend outside in the fresh fallen snow. They had started to talk about some inane subject like the latest Potion assignment or the weather.
Then, Harry had leaned forward. Just as simple as that, he had leaned forward and kissed Draco. And, surprisingly, Draco hadn't stopped him but had opened his arms. They were soon entwined together, tongues battling for dominance.
Harry didn't really know why he had started the kiss. He had wanted to and Draco was just there. There didn't seem any reasons not to. When they were alone, Harry often forgot who he was supposed to be and who Draco was supposed to be. When he was with Ron and walking in the hallways, he would never have thought of doing this to the Slytherin who crossed their path. But when it was only him and Draco, it was as if they were different people in a different reality.
It was the heat of their skin together, supple and warm under questing fingers. It was all the little details about the other boy that Harry only remembered when he touched him. All the little things that he had felt that first night, or all that he had seen and tasted in the bath. It was physical, and Harry liked it. Harry liked to be so near someone it made his skin melt, to be able to reach and just touch. Draco was available and it was nice.
After that time, it had been easier to meet by chance.
Harry never looked when they were surrounded by people. Sometimes, he would peek and he would see Draco staring straight at him. It always annoyed him, but the other boy would then open his mouth and say some scathing remark that made Harry frown. Then, they would meet by chance afterwards.
They often only talked. And often lapsed into silence after one of them had breached a forbidden subject. But sometimes, Draco would joke and laugh, seeming to be just enjoying the moment. Harry surprised himself, more than once, just relaxing beside the other boy too. Then sometimes, Harry would reach over and touch. Draco never said no. He never made the first move, but he would smirk, or dare, or allude to something that would shorten the space between him and Harry.
It was a freedom Harry never knew he could have and sometimes, it scared him. Sometimes, when he reached over and Draco said nothing but only looked at him, he felt lost. The person he saw in Draco's eyes sometimes felt like a stranger to him. But sometimes, he would sit in the snow outside, in front of his parents' graves, and he could feel that stranger inside of him, turning restlessly around.
Harry didn't stop very often to ponder on their relationship. Nothing changed, really. They talked before, less often than now, but they still had interacted in the same ways. They also yelled at each other, no less often than before. Still not able to talk about certain things. Draco still insulted him and his housemates as often as before and really, nothing was new. Except for the touch that was now a part of their interaction.
Yet, more often than not, he found himself worrying. About the silence from Voldemort, about himself, about his friends, about school and about this entire thing between the Slytherin and himself. Only when he was in the heat of the moment, warm flesh tingling under his lips, he would forget everything. And this only worried him more.
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So that's all. Next part soon will be up. To know more about Hepatica, the white flower of the previous chapter, look on my profile page.